Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

NEW ORLEANS – Based on Alabama’s dominating performance in Monday night’s BCS title game, the Crimson Tide are ranked No. 1 on my final Associated Press ballot.

Alabama (12-1) was ranked No. 3 on my final regular season ballot, but the Tide were impressive enough to leap LSU and Oklahoma State. LSU (13-1) may have had the most impressive regular season in college football history, but I only ranked the Tigers No. 2

Despite Oklahoma State’s victory against Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl, I dropped the Cowboys from No. 2 to No. 3. Their victory wasn’t dominating enough for me to keep Oklahoma State (12-1) in my top two.

Here is my final AP ballot for 2011. Last week’s rankings in parenthesis.

Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

This poll is a great example why human polls should not receive as high a percentage in the BCS formula (although it is coaches not writers poll that counts to the BCS). Seriously, USC and Wisconsin in the top 10? Michigan finishing ahead of Michigan State? Baylor finishing ahead of Kansas State? And how does Virginia Tech, Nebraska, and Clemson even making the top 25? And no Rutgers who defeated the Iowa State team that set the SEC championship in motion by defeating Oklahoma State? If the BCS system survives over a 16 team play off then there needs to be some discussion on how to have the human polls be tempered with the reality of the product we call got to watch on the field (USC excluded of course).

Since: Oct 16, 2006

Posted on: January 10, 2012 1:35 pm

Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

Lets all (for a minute) pretend that there was a 16 team playoff this year and the Tigers and the Tide were in opposite brackets. Lets say they both made it to the finals and played each other (again). It really doesn't matter who wins, what matters is that this could happen again when the BCS changes are made. Will there still be some folks crying "foul" that its rigged ??

Since: Oct 22, 2009

Posted on: January 10, 2012 1:14 pm

Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

Learn to spell.

Since: Jun 27, 2008

Posted on: January 10, 2012 12:05 pm

Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

Did you even watch the Stanford-Oklahoma State game? Andrew Luck played amazing. He only had four incompletions and threw for over 300 yards. And it isn't like this an anomoly and that it is the first game that Andrew Luck ever played well. In fact, there is a small rumor going around that he is being considered the best player in next years draft. Oh yeah, their running back Stepfan Taylor had an amazing game. Stanford wasn't exactly a slack off team. For whatever reason, they have troubles with Oregon, but beyond that they are a very good team.

Oklahoma State on the other hand, offensively did amazing, in particular Weedon's 426 passing yards. Blackmon had 186 receiving yards, he too is supposed to go high in the draft. Oklahoma State scored at least 30 points in every single game this season. Did they have to rally to get the win over Stanford? Yes, they did. Would they have lost had the freshman kicker made that last field goal? Yes, they would have. However, I don't see that as a discredit to Oklahoma State, as much as I see it as a credit to Stanford's offense. (Admittedly, it was the first time I ever watched Andrew Luck play, and wow, I definitely can see why he is going number 1 in the draft. In my opinion, it is more impressive that Oklahoma State won against an impressive performance by Andrew Luck.)

It isn't as cut and dry as you are making it sound. This was the worst BCS round that I've ever experienced. No matter what happened last night, there would be questions about the National title. I think it is made worse by Alabama outplaying LSU the way they did.

Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

Turkey, I am not saying that there is a prize for #2. I am mad b/c it shows that lack of integrity of the voters. bama's defense was amazing people. but come on. LSU had about 100 yards total, only 4 first downs, and 0 points. they were embarrassed. i don't care how good bama's d is. youre not number 2 if you cant score a point much less keep the game close. LSU gets blown out, much less not even winning, and OSU beats an 11-1 at the time Stanford team, and McMurphy has the gall to say "that wasn't dominating enough."

Since: Nov 12, 2011

Posted on: January 10, 2012 10:19 am

Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

LSU's offense was anemic and it seemed as though any half decent defense could have held them under 10 pts or less.

You need to go back and look at lsu's 12 other scores. Nine of them against 'ranked' teams. They beat all their opponents by an average of more than 20pts. They just appeared anemic last night because Nick Saban and staff had 44 days to prepare for this game and came ready to play (obviously with a chip on their shoulder). You just don't beat the Crimson Tide twice. The first loss just pissed them off.

Since: Sep 13, 2011

Posted on: January 10, 2012 10:13 am

Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

What an absolute joke McMurphy. LSU doesnt score a single point, and you dont have the integrity to drop them further than 2? Okie State beat Stanford. They should easily be #2, and might even be able to beat BAma. only a playoff would show us. you votes are pathetic and a cancer on the game of college football which many of us love

WTH does it matter anyway if your not first your last ($1 to Ricky Bobby). Nobody remembers who number 2, 3, 4, 5 or 100 was there is only one trophy. People remember 2 things:

1. National Champions2. Conference Champions

LSU's problem is now their conference championship doesn't really mean anything and probably should be vacated.

Since: Jul 28, 2009

Posted on: January 10, 2012 10:09 am

Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

What an absolute joke McMurphy. LSU doesnt score a single point, and you dont have the integrity to drop them further than 2? Okie State beat Stanford. They should easily be #2, and might even be able to beat BAma. only a playoff would show us. you votes are pathetic and a cancer on the game of college football which many of us love.

Since: Nov 12, 2011

Posted on: January 10, 2012 10:06 am

Alabama, LSU, Okla State top my AP ballot

feels good getting it off your chest, doesn't it? Just be glad your team wasn't on the field with Alabama last night. Otherwise, you'd really be boohooing today.